Happy Holidays!

The tall goldenrod seedheads look like snowy Christmas trees to me. Wishing you and your family a joyous holiday season.

Getting in the Christmas Spirit

While not traditional holiday flowers, the colors in this scene made me think of Christmas. This is trumpet creeper and Japanese honeysuckle on the Shiloh Greenway last June.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Now that the tree branches are bare, it’s easier to see the birds. This is a male red-bellied woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus). The red on the male’s head goes from the beak to the back of the neck. The crown of the female’s head is gray. These birds have some light red coloring on their bellies,… Continue reading Red-bellied Woodpecker

A Glowing Ember?

The setting sun hit this oak leaf just right, making it look like a glowing ember. Remember to take some time out of your busy day to enjoy the simple things.

What’s That? November 25, 2025

What happened to that blackberry branch? The leaves are shriveled and curled up, and there’s white wax on the stem and leaves. This is damage from blackberry psyllid (Trioza tripunctata). Blackberry psyllids are bugs that look like small cicadas. They feed only on blackberry plants. They pierce the stem and suck out the sap. The… Continue reading What’s That? November 25, 2025